Final answer:
For school-age children, intramuscular medication should be administered by inserting the needle quickly in a dartlike motion after ensuring proper dosage and considering drug metabolism. The injection site should be cleansed and allowed to dry before the injection, and the child's position should be considered for the safest and most effective administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
When administering medications by intramuscular injection, it's important to consider the best practices for administration to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient, especially in school-age children. One guideline includes inserting the needle quickly using a dartlike motion. This method helps to minimize the discomfort and ensure that the medication is delivered efficiently into the muscle tissue. It is also essential to select an appropriate dosage based on the patient's mass and consider the drug's metabolism and clearance in the body, especially in patients with liver or kidney dysfunction. Additionally, factors such as whether the child is cooperative and the potential for movement should be taken into account, which may determine whether the child should be standing or in another position during the injection.Moreover, it is important to prepare the injection site properly by cleansing and then allowing the skin to dry before administering the injection. This reduces the risk of introducing pathogens into the injection site and the resulting potential for infection.